title: Stretch-induced activation of ERK in myocytes is p38 and calcineurin-dependent.
abstract: Activation of specific mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) has been suggested to be involved in phenotype modulation of cells subjected to mechanical strain, which may be common to different mechano-sensitive cell types. We have submitted C2C12 myocytes to a static stretch and examined its effect upon the activation of ERK. Stretch induced a rapid but transient activation of ERK. This activation was however prevented when cells were pre-treated with inhibitors of p38 and calcineurin. The dependence of strain-induced ERK activation upon p38 suggests a cross-talk between these two pathways when mediating a response to a mechanical stimulus in this cell type. This suggests that cross relationships between these MAP kinases may be of crucial importance for myocyte phenotype modulation and differentiation in response to a mechanical stimulus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK.
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Loughna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019703:Calcineurin